| What is it? |
The oil pressed from the seeds of the rosehip plant (Rosa Canina). It is sometimes called Dog Rose. It is primarily comprised of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, making it a great choice for acne-prone and mature skin. |
| Appearance |
Refined rosehip oil is a pale yellow liquid. Cold-pressed, unrefined rosehip oil is a much more vibrant orange-yellow colour. |
| Texture |
Thin and smooth. |
| Scent |
Refined rosehip oil has a light oily scent, nothing too noticeable. Unrefined rosehip oil has a fresh scent that I find reminiscent of lemony iced tea. It definitely does not smell like roses. |
| Absorbency Speed |
Super fast—rosehip oil is a “drying” oil that sinks into the skin in an instant, leaving it feeling dry to the touch. |
| Solubility |
Oil |
| Why do we use it in formulations? |
Rosehip oil is a beautiful luxury emollient, and thanks to its super-fast absorption speed, it’s really useful for lightening up oil blends. |
| Do you need it? |
No, but it’s a nice luxury oil. |
| Refined or unrefined? |
I prefer unrefined rosehip oil. |
| Strengths |
Fast absorbency speed, high content of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acids. |
| Weaknesses |
Rosehip oil is a fairly expensive carrier oil. |
| Alternatives & Substitutions |
Hazelnut oil is a good alternative in terms of absorbency speed. You could also try other fast-absorbing luxury carrier oils like Camellia Seed Oil or even Olive Squalane, though that’s really just an emollient with a similar absorbency speed—the composition is very different. |
| How to Work with It |
Include rosehip oil in the oil phases of your formulations; I prefer to avoid heating it if possible. |
| Storage & Shelf Life |
Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, rosehip oil should last at least one year. I store my rosehip oil in the fridge. |
| Tips, Tricks, and Quirks |
Rosehip oil is often said to have a high vitamin C content, but according to Modern Cosmetics, “this is completely incorrect, as vegetable oils do not contain water-soluble vitamins”. |
| Recommended starter amount |
100mL (3.3fl oz) or less |
| Where to Buy it |
Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. |
Some Formulations that Use Rosehip Oil
